Collapsible box



March 28, 1939. G. E. HARTMAN COLLAPS IBLE BOX Filed Feb. 15, 1937 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 OOLLAPSIBLE BOX Glen E. Hartman, Oklahoma City, Okla, assignor to Oklahoma Paper Company, Oklahoma City, Okla., a corporation of Oklahoma Application February 15, 1937, Serial No. 125,731

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-41) This invention relates to boxes generally, and particularly to those made of fibrous material such as cardboard, strawboard, or the like, and which may be folded or collapsed for shipping or storage, and unfolded and set up as needed.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a collapsible box of thiskind, which will be neat and attractive in appearance, sturdy so as to stand up well in actual service, extremely economical as compared with non-collapsibe boxes used for the same purposes, and which will be otherwise satisfactory and eflicient for use wherever deemed applicable.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a box of the kind described, which will be especially useful for the delivery of mens or ladies hats,although it is not intended that the field of usefulness of the box shall be confined to such articles, and wherein said box shall preferably be of polygonal shape in transverse crosssection to conform to the discriminating and expensive trade using such articles.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a box, made of two main elements, one of which shall compose the enclosing side walls of the box, and the other of which shall be permanently associated therewith and form the bottom of the box, and reinforce each other against accldental collapsing while the box is in set up position.

An added object of the invention is to provide a box of the kind described, in which the bottom will be raised above the supporting rim of the box, thereby minimizing any tendency of the set up box to seat unevenly.

' A further object of my invention is to provide a box of the kind described, wherein a tie memher is associated with the two main elements, so that when the latter are in collapsed position the tie member will be sumciently loose to permit of such collapsed relationship, and the pulling taut vide reentrant inturned fianges on thebottomedges of the side walls of the box, and foldable peripheral flanges on said bottom element, the latter flanges being interposed between said first flanges and said side .walls to limit the bottom element against further downward movement past said side wall flanges and maintain said bottom element spaced above the supporting edges of the box, andalso assisting in preventing accidental collapsing of the box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible lid for a polygonal box, so that such lids may be shipped and stored similarly to the boxes themselves, and may be opened and set up as needed, simply by'unfolding the lids from their collapsed position.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this igiiivention appertalns, from the disclosures herein ven.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and the uses mentioned, as will be more clearly pointed out in the claims. 1

In the drawing, wherein like reference charac-- ters indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, of the container, with parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lid.

Fig. 31s a perspective view of the container in partly collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan .view of the bottom.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein I have illustratedone of the preferred embodiments of my invention, there is shown a receptacle'or box made of fibrous and relatively cheap material, such as from cardboard, straw.- board, corrugatedpaper, or the like, and of a shape well-likedfor use in the retail distribution of mens and ladies hats. f

The box as shown is substantially polygonal in form, the instant embodiment showing a hexagonal box for example, and comprising two main elements, the enclosing or wall element A and the bottom element B, associated with a tie member T to assist in drawing said elements into set-up position and supportingly reinforcing the box in use.

By making the bottom element B separate and independent of the side walls, the varietyof combinations in material and pattern, colors, etc., is greatly widened, and hence,"one is not limited to a bottom element of the same appearance as the sidewall structure. This is quite important in many instances, especially where the retailer has a desire for an individually patterned box, say forexample, a light-colored side wall enclosure and a dark bottom element.

' The enclosure element A is preferably formed of a sheet of the desired material, having a series of substantially parallel score lines i--l extending vertically to deflne the side walls or panels 2 of the box, there being six of these panels in the box shown, and the adjoining ends of said panels are permanently connected so as to make be supported on a double thickness of material at its periphery, making for strong and construction where needed.

The bottom element 13 comprises a main body portion I of the-same sized hexagonal form as the interior of the set-u side wall element A, each of said bounding es of the bottom element being provided with a score line to provide peripheral flanges I of a depth preferably substantially equal to the depth of the flanges 3, the ends of adjacent flanges 8 being separated from one another so as to permit of said bottom element and its flanges being extended 'into a plane.

' This bottom element is secured at a pair of sturdy parallel peripheral edges to the side wall element, as by staples or the like, 6 to make a permanent securement thereat, the secured pair of flanges I being interposed between the adja-- cent panels and their flanges 1, so that substantially the full depth of the flanges 5 are within the flanges 3 to enable the uppermost or free edges of said flanges i to support the bottom element therealong.

The bottom elementliB is provided with another score line or crease 1 extending substantially centrally or median between the pair of secured flanges I, diametrically of said bottom element, so that when, said element is secured at its pair of opposed flanges 5 to the corresponding lower endsof the wall element A, and the element 18 is folded double along said diametral line of fold I inwardly of the element A, the latter will be also folded double along the pair of score lines defining the panels, adjacent the ends ofsaid fold line 1, Thus, when so folded to collapsed position, the wall element will be folded double for the full height of its panels, and the line of fold I will be transversely at right anglesto said lines of vertical fold of the element A.

The unsecured flanges of the bottom element,

will, of course, be interposed in the spaces between the corresponding lower ends of the side walls and their flanges to interlock said elements against accidental collapse, but in order to facilitate the setting up of the box, with easy insertion and positioning of the flanges of the bottom element to proper place, I have provided a tie member T, as for example, the cord or ribbon indicated.

This tie member is threaded at either end,

in sequence, through a flange 5, flange}, and

lower edge of a panel of the side wall element A, projecting exteriorly beyond the latter and of sumcient' length to be tied across the top of the box. It will be noted that said tie member extends transversely across the box, below the bottom element B, at an angleto the diametral fold line I, so that when taut, said tie member will supportingly reinforce said bottom element whenever the latter is pressed thereagainst, as for example when the box is loaded heavily.

When it is desired to set up one of the boxes from collapsed position, the opposite ends 01 the tie member are pulled apart, thus drawing the bottom element substantially flat and uh foldedacross the bottom of the element A, swinging the free flanges I into position into the spacesbetween the corresponding panels of the box and their flanges 8,-u'ntil said tie is taut, and if necessary the flangeaof the bottom element maybe premed into final position from within the box. Obviously,'the tie member extending transversely across said median line of fold of the bottom element will, in addition to providing a reinforcing support for the load, prevent accldental separation and collapsing of the box.

A polygonal lid L may be similarly collapsibly constructed for such a polygonal box, said lid being of a sheet of desired material, similar to or contrasting with that of the box or any of the two portions thereof, the central or body portion of said lid being of a polygonal area of a size to flt over and cover the top of the box when set up. as indicated at I.

Depending from the bounding side edges of said central or body portion 8 are the flanges integrally connected to one another properly scored vertically to form the deflning sides of the polygon. The opposite ends of alternate flanges project beyond and are superimposed onto the ends 01' the adjacent flanges and secured thereat, as by staples I. or the like. Each of said alternate flanges so projected, is provided with a score or crease extending diagonally from the adjacent corner of the lid,, inwardly and downwardly to the lower or free edge of said flanges, as at ll, so that the flanges may be folded along said diagonal creases and said vertion, and thereby permit of stacking thelids similarly to the packaging of the boxes themselves. In order to relieve the stress that is placed on the material of the box at the fold lines, when folding the same double,-and avoid the breaking v of the same at or adjacent the fold lines, I have found it highly desirable to cut away the material of the flanges adjacent one another in either direction away from the vertical lines where the box is folded double, as best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. 'lnese cut-outs may be in the shape of the substantially triangular openings there shown, or in any other shape wherein the ends of the reentrant flanges will come together at the lines of double fold i' at substantially but a point of material, 'or perhaps slightly spaced tion of parts herein shown and described, except ,as limited by the state of the art to whichthis invention appertains. and the claims hereunto appended. V

' What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible box comprising a wall element constituting a series of integrally connected side walls adapted to be folded double to collapsed position, the lower ends of said walls having inturned reentrant flanges; a separate bottom ele ment having a diametral fold at right angles to tical folds substantially flat against .the body por-.

the fold line of said wall element and provided with peripheral flanges, said bottom element being permanently secured at a pair of opposed flanges to said side walls; and a tie member freely extended entirely below said bottom element transverselythereacross and threaded through the flanges of both elements and thence projecting exteriorly through the lower ends of 1 said wall element, so that when the elements are set up from collapsed position said flanges of the bottom will be interposed between said side wall element and its flanges and said tie member will supportingly reinforce the bottom element when the latter is pressed thereagainst.

2. A collapsible polygonal box, comprising a wall element having a series of adjoined similar side wall panels adapted to be folded flat their full height, and provided with inturned reentrant flanges at the lower ends; an independent bottom element, having peripheral flanges adapted to be interposed between said side panels and their flanges and secured permanently in position at a pair of diametrically opposed flanges only, said element having a central line of fold parallel to said pair of flanges; and a tie member extending transversely of said line of fold of said bottom element, substantially entirely below the latter and threaded through a pair of flanges of the bottom element and the adjacent side panels and their flanges, whereby pulling said tie member in opposite directions will unfold said elements simultaneously and draw the flanges of the bottom element into place between the side panels and their flanges.

3. A two-member collapsible receptacle comprising an element adapted to be folded double to collapsed position and constituting a series of side walls provided with a reentrant substantially U-shaped supporting edge at the lower end; a bottom element having a diametral fold to be folded double to collapsed position within said first element and permanently secured at a pair of opposed peripheral'edges to the lower end of said first element and having opposed peripheral flanges, said bottom element adapted to be supported in opened position onthe lower end of said first element; and a tie member threaded through the first element from the exterior diam etrally through the lower ends of said first element and through said peripheral flanges and thence immediately extending entirely below said bottom element to reinforce the latter when the latter is pressed against the taut tie member.

4. A collapsible box comprising an element having a series of side walls and adapted to be position to substantially folded double to a collapsed position and provid'ed with peripheral flanges folded inwardly substantially parallel to said side walls so as to support the box on said lowermost fold; a separate bottom element having a median fold and pairs of opposed peripheral flanges and permanently secured at one flanges only to said side wall; and a tie member extended below said bottom element transversely of the fold line of said bottom element, and

through another pair of flanges of said bottom element, and thence threaded outwardly through said side walls above said folded supporting edge of the latter, whereby the tautening of said tie member will pull the bottom element against the side wall to close the-box thereat.

5. A collapsible box comprising a member having a series of side walls provided with a peripheral' flange folded reentrantly to support the box on the lowermost folded edge, and said member being foldable double to a collapsed position; a separate bottom member having a median fold so as to be folded double within said first member and having pairs ofopposed peripheral flanges and permanently secured at one pair of opposed flanges only to said side walls; and a tie element extended along and below said bottom member transversely of the bottom fold line and thence threaded outwardly of the box through said side walls and another pair of said flanges of said bottom member entirely above the lowermost supporting edge of said side wall of said pairs of opposed flanges so as to pull the member from collapsed straight position as the tie element is made tau y 6. A collapsible box comprising a wall element constituting a series of side walls adapted to be folded to collapsed position, the lower portion of said walls having intumed reentrant flanges: a separate bottom element having a diametral fold at right angles to the fold line of said wall element and provided with peripheral flanges. said bottom element being permanently attached at its flange to said side walls; and a tie member freely extended entirely below said bottom element transversely thereacross and threaded through the flanges of the same and thence projecting exteriorly through the lower ends of said wall element. so that when the elements are set up fromcollapsed position, said flanges of the bottom element will be interposed between said side wall element and its flanges, and said tie memberv will supportingly reinforce the bottom element when the latter is pressed thereagainst.

GLEN REAR'IMAN. 

